The document discusses the flow and use of information related to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) across different government levels in Uganda, highlighting that national policies do not effectively reach lower levels due to various barriers. It identifies low utilization of received information and cites factors such as a lack of incentives for knowledge sharing, poor appreciation of sanitation, and limited internet access as contributing to the problem. The research indicates that information flow is more problematic as it becomes more decentralized, with discussions on potential motivations for sharing knowledge and the role of improved internet access in addressing these issues.

1. Information Use in Uganda Information flow and use at different levels of government in Uganda on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

2. Problem The Uganda national government has a policy towards total sanitation At lower levels of government, priorities are different Information from national level does not reach/is not used by lower levels Why not?

3. Research Five-month visit to Uganda Interviews with stakeholders at national, district, and sub-county level Find out about flow of information (who receives what) use of information (is something done with it?) reasons (why do people do what they do?)

4. Flow of Information Flow of information: check documents from national level down to district level: 6-8 out of 8 docs to sub-county level: 4-6 out of 7 docs to communities: perceived as problematic So, the more decentralized, the more problematic the flow of information (Internet access only national/district level, mainly e-mail)

5. Use of Information At all levels: use of received information is low, with a few exceptions handbooks/manuals are used more than policy documents

6. Reasons Poor appreciation of sanitation Water Dept.: prefer hardware (pumps) Health Dept.: prefer curative health (hospitals) Poor appreciation of information No incentives to share knowledge No incentives to improve practices No reading culture No monitoring or follow up

7. Discussion Do you recognize these problems and the reasons? What motivates you to share knowledge or to use information? Could improved Internet access play a role in improving the situation in Uganda?